The Brighton Magazine

Selected Brighton Magazine Article

Jordan Stephens and Harley Alexander-Sule of local hip hop pop band Rizzle Kicks - known for Top 10 hits such as Down With the Trumpets and Mama do the Hump - gave an overwhelming enthusiastic thumbs up on becoming Patrons for AudioActive, the Brighton based charity who gave them their first musical outlet as teenagers.

Jordan and Harley grew up in Brighton. They first got involved with AudioActive in 2006, going along to workshops taught by many from Brighton’s vibrant hip hop community such as Tom Hines of local freestyle night Slip Jam B, Dizraeli, Max Wheeler (Dirty Diggers/Ye Mighty) and Paul Alborough a.k.a Professor Elemental.

AudioActive is embarking on a campaign to raise funds to continue supporting young aspiring singers, rappers and artists during this difficult economic climate and amidst government cuts to music services.

The charity a range of music production and performance based projects for young people, specialising in Music Technology and urban art forms.

Established in 2004, the charity uses music and arts as a medium to nurture talent and improve the life chances of children and young people living in the South East.

Rizzle Kicks patronage will support their fundraising campaign with a number of planned activities for later this year, starting with their upcoming gig at Brighton Dome on Sunday 29 April.

Jordan and Harley said: “AudioActive do amazing work! If it wasn’t for the experiences we had, the skills we learnt and the contacts we made at AudioActive, we wouldn’t be were we are today. We’re both grateful and proud to be able to give something back to this incredible organisation.”

Amongst other projects, Jordan and Harley participated in AudioActive’s flagship project Hip Hop Foundation, which saw them performing live to thousands on stage at Brighton Hip Hop Festival 2006 and at Concorde 2 on the bill alongside the likes of Blak Twang and Soweto Kinch during the 2007 festival.

Jordan also starred in the charity’s first ever hip hop theatre production Bonfire Night, written and directed by political rapper and award winning performance poet Dizraeli, in Brighton Dome’s Pavilion Theatre in 2009 and 2010.

The Brighton hip hop community are proud of the young rappers’ successes.

Tom Hines, rapper and AudioActive workshop leader added: “Rizzle Kicks have always respected the charities that gave them their first opportunities.

“When they received the BeMOBO award on behalf of Youth Music at MOBO, they mentioned AudioActive, and they stuck their neck out for Rhythmix when that whole X-Factor name change thing happened, which was quite noble.

“I know Jordan has worked really hard. I’ve seen him do tiny shows in poetry gigs to build up to where he is.

“I always advised him to be himself and to let his personality come out in the music.

“I also taught him to recognise an opportunity when it stares you in the face – and he’s done that!

“Nowadays there’s a strong young hip hop scene, producing the likes of Rizzle Kicks, who will inspire the next generation, which is a testament to AudioActive’s good work.”

To learn more about AudioActive’s current and past projects, please visit their website: www.audioactive.org.uk

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